That’s why it’s always exciting to see any example of this ground-breaking Chevrolet sports car go on the block.

Number 220 has just been restored by 1953 Corvette restoration expert Brett Henderson of Pendleton, Ind., and it’s now being offered for sale at Worldwide Auctioneer’s Houston Classic auction which takes place on Saturday, April 25th.

The Corvette is being sold by an enthusiast who has owned 12 first-year Corvettes over the years. That’s amazing in itself; most people would be thrilled to have just one 1953 model!

The car is ready to show and compete at the highest levels in the Corvette world, including Bloomington Gold.

The buyer will get a car that includes full weather gear with a proper convertible top and side curtains, not to mention a CD documenting the restoration process.

It’s estimated that only 225 of the original 300 Corvettes still exist today, so whoever adds this nicely restored example to his collection should no doubt expect to open his wallet wide.

While the 1953 model falls far short of modern-day performance standards set by the seventh-generation Stingray, those who have driven a ’53 say it is still a wonderful car when compared to other cars of its era.

You can get more information about Saturday’s auction of the 1953 VIN #220 at Worldwide-Auctioneers.com. The auction house has estimated the sale of the Corvette to range from $275,000 – $325,000.

Mitch Talley has loved Corvettes since he was just 8 years old. He’s owned 10 Corvettes since 1983, including examples from the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth generations. His goal is to own first, second, and seventh generation cars someday. He and his son, Chris, also a Corvette enthusiast, served as Captains of the 2014 Georgia Corvette Caravan.